Outdoor speakers face a challenge for proper coverage, which is why many fall flat when trying to retain quality and bass at the same. Power, durability, and bass response are most important when choosing an outdoor speaker, so here are our picks based on those attributes. While they range in price, it’s important to access your specific needs outdoors before purchasing.
The name Bose is usually synonymous with quality for many audiophiles, though at times they get a bad wrap for certain models. However, the 51’s have amazing sound for the price and they provide 360 degrees of coverage. They feature a centrally located port to enhance low-frequency reproduction so the boom is more apparent. The 51’s can be partially buried in the ground or easily installed on hard surfaces. And with a five-year warranty, Bose has you covered if the weather turns for the worse.
The AW-650’s have great performance for its pricey tag, the only complaint is the bass response. Many outdoor speakers have a similar problem based on the wide-open space they have to cover. That’s why the bass is usually sacrificed for power and accuracy. The AW-650’s still have superb clarity and coverage, however. They can also be mounted almost anywhere in horizontal or vertical positions.
With its weathered look, this 2-way speaker fits well in larger backyards and pool areas, as well as other many settings that require more bass. They are very versatile and can handle being driven hard without distorting. However, they can be pretty pricey depending on where you’re buying them. They’re also not as versatile as speakers that can be mounted and they require some underground wiring, which can take a lot of time to do properly.
The Di6’s have superb sound quality for their size. They’re lightweight and rugged enough to take extreme weather. The Di6 utilizes the same drive unit used in Tannoy’s studio monitors, providing a crisp frequency response. The only real downside is that they’re quite pricey for the consumer market. If you can afford to drop the money and really want professional sounding speakers outdoors, than these might be the ones to try.
The Voyager 7’s have a great dispersion angle for the widest coverage possible. The bass is a bit weak however, making it clear that Boston Acoustics was going for power and coverage over low-frequency response. However, its tweeter delivers a smooth and natural high-frequency response. Its C brackets make outdoor mounting simple and allows placement to be quite versatile. They can be a bit pricey, so shop around a bit if you’re looking to buy.